How To Plant Container Perennials

If you’re looking to brighten up your home with plants but don’t want the labor of a full garden, planting in containers are a great way to decorate. Plants in containers can brighten up any area of the home, indoors and outdoors. And when it comes to containers, perennial plants are the best choice. Since perennials come back every year, there is no need to re-pot the plants every year. Perennials also have a wide range of plants with interesting foliage, so your container will look beautiful even when the plants aren’t in flower.

First, you’ll need a container. Any size will do as long as it is deep enough to house the roots of the plant. Make sure your container has holes on the bottom so excess water can drain out. If your container does not already have drainage holes on the bottom, a few minutes with a power drill can solve the problem. If your pot is very deep, you may want to use some sort of filler so you will not need to use more soil than necessary. For filler you can use any material that does not soak up too much water. Things like styrofoam, crushed aluminum soda cans, and even smaller containers turned upside-down will work. Things like newspaper and organic matter like straw are not recommended. Also don’t forget a plate for the bottom of your container, otherwise your plant will drain water right onto the floor.

Next, you’ll want to choose the flowers you want to put in your container. If you have a short pot, very tall plants may look a bit strange, and vice-versa. Try to look for several plants with varying heights to give the appearance of a full container. Try combining different plants so that when one plant is resting, the other is in full flower. This will lead to a beautiful container year-round. Your options aren’t only restricted to ornamental plants either. Edible plants can look quite beautiful as well as tasty when they are in season. Also consider flowers that have nice scents, particularly if your container is going indoors.

Once you’ve decided what plants to use, the next step is to actually plant them. It is better to use already grown plants from a nursery rather than seeds. Seeds may grow in an unexpected manner, leading to an unattractive arrangement. Simply decide where you would like a particular plant placed, then use your hands or a small gardening spade to dig a hole to place the plant in. It’s that simple!

Lastly, you’ll want to place your container in an appropriate spot. If you have a container full of plants that need full sunlight, placing it inside may not be the best idea. Similarly, if you have a rainy climate, you may not want to put your container of delicate plants outside with nothing covering them. Of course, both of these situations can be worked around. There are lamps made specifically for growing plants inside, and the delicate flowers can be placed under an awning. If you’re willing to get creative, there are an endless amount of possibilities for plant containers!